The City in Winter

I first posted this piece in February of 2019 during the coldest point in the winter season. Now that COVID-19 has us contemplating socializing outside in the depth of winter, we should to look to the Norwegian concept of Friluftsliv or “free outdoor life.” No city has embraced this concept better than Winnipeg.     […]

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Economic Development and National Parks

NPR had a fascinating story that really highlights what “economic development” has come to mean. Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt’s Bees, had been slowly buying up property around Millinocket, Maine that has been abandoned by paper mills. Her ultimate goal was to donate 100,000 acres and an endowment to the National Park Service for the creation of […]

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Economic Development and National Parks

NPR had a fascinating story this morning that really highlights what “economic development” has come to mean. Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt’s Bees, has been slowly buying up property around Millinocket, Maine that has been abandoned by paper mills. Her ultimate goal is to donate 70,000 acres and an endowment to the National Park Service for […]

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A Tale of Two Cities

I recently when on a trip back East and visited two well-known but very different cities–Niagara Falls and Georgetown.  One was thriving–great stores and restaurants, a lively atmosphere and a steady stream of pedestrian traffic. The other was not just deserted, it was decaying. First stop was downtown Niagara Falls.  Despite being within walking distance […]

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